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Supply: ULA/SpaceX by way of GAO report 18-476
The US Authorities Accountability Workplace (GAO) has launched a report: “Schedule Uncertainty Persists for Begin of Operational Missions to the Worldwide House Station.”
In 2014, NASA awarded two firm-fixed-price contracts to Boeing and SpaceX, value a mixed complete of as much as $6.eight billion, to develop crew transportation techniques and conduct preliminary missions to the Worldwide House Station.
Earlier than any missions can occur, NASA must certify that each contractors’ autos are protected for human spaceflight.
Continual delays
However SpaceX and Boeing have run into power delays. Whereas each contractors initially deliberate to be licensed in 2017, now neither is anticipated to be prepared till late 2019 on the earliest.
NASA has purchased seats on a Russian car to make sure U.S. entry to the area station via September 2020, however doesn’t have a plan if delays with U.S. contractors persist previous then.
GAO continues to imagine that NASA ought to develop a contingency plan to make sure uninterrupted entry to the ISS if delays persist past September 2020. NASA typically agreed with GAO’s findings.
Highlights web page go to:
https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/699882.pdf
Full report, go to:
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